Vehicle driving construction and arrangement



W. B. FAG EOL Filed June 4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 18, 1941.

VEHICLE DRIVING CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT Feb. 18, 1941.

w. B. FAGEOL Filed June 4, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 kww P 3M W mm W M M? W W M S \Q v MN J Patented Feb. 18, 1941 VEHICLE DRIVING CONSTRUCTION AND a ARRANGEMENT William B. Fageol, Kent, Ohio, assig'nor to Twin Coach Company, Kent, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application June 4, 1936, Serial No. 83,548

13 Claims. (Cl. 180-54) The present invention relates to power plant and transmission mechanisms for motor vehicles, and more particularly concerns vehicle power and drive mechanisms including a change speed transmission positioned transversely of the vehicle behind the drive axle thereof.

This application constitutes a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial Number 729,115, filed June 5, 1934, now Patent No.

2,083,059 in which application I have shown the power plant and transmission mechanism of the present invention in combination with a passenger carrying vehicle of novel construction. Al-

though the present invention is especially adapted for application to motor vehicles of the passenger carrying type, it is to be understood that its use is not limited to such vehicles, and

therefore in the present application disclosure will not be made of all the features and details 90 of the vehicle construction of my co-pending application.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel vehicle power delivery and drive mechanism in which the vehicle power plant is 15 located adjacent and to the rear of the vehicle drive axle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power and drive mechanism for a vehicle, embodying a change speed transmission positioned transversely of the vehicle, and a longitudinal drive shaft extending from the transmission to the vehicle drive axle.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel vehicle drive incorporating a change speed transmission having a power takeoff shaft at right angles to the shaft of the transmission which is adapted to be driven by the vehicle drive motor.

It is another major object of this invention 10 to provide a rear drive comprising a motor and a transmission aligned and disposed transversely of the vehicle in proximity to and parallelism with the vehicle drive axle, with a propeller shaft extending between the axle and that end of the a transmission which is adjacent the motor.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel vehicle drive incorporating a change speed transmission having a main shaft driven from the vehicle drive motor through a 50 clutch, and a. countershaft driven from the main shaft through gears comprising a change speed and reverse mechanism, the latter shaft driving a power take-oi! shaft for the vehicle wheels through bevel gears. 55 Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel form of drive for a. fan and other accessories to the vehicle power plant by means of a vehicle motor driven shaft extending beyond the enclosing casing for the change speed transmission mechanism. 5

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel power plant and drive mechanism for a vehicle wherein an auxiliary flywheel for the power plant encloses a friction clutch and is located at the end of the transmission remote 1 from the motor. 7

The foregoing objects will be clarified, and further objects will appear from a study of the i'ollowing description and the appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying 15 drawings, in which: a

Figure 1 is a fragmental plan view of the rear end of a vehicle showing how the power drive and transmission mechanisms of the present invention are mounted transversely to the rear of go the drive axle and connected thereto.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the construction illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially axially of the clutch and change speed 25 transmission mechanism shown in Figure l, transversely of the vehicle frame.

Figure 4 is an end elevational view of the transmission and clutch housing as seen when viewed from the right of Figure 3, parts of the 3 mechanism being removed for clarity of illustration.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a slightly modified form of clutch and transmission mechanism.

With reference particularly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the base frame ll of the vehicle includes a pair of spaced longitudinal members I! and [3 extending from end to end of the frame and secured in spaced parallel relation by a series of transverse members extending the full width of the vehicle, as illustrated by members l4 and I5 disposed adjacent the rear wheels. A floor section I6 is adapted to be supported on the transverse members It and I5.

Further longitudinal members I1 and I8 form side frame members and are preferably joined by an integral rear end member IS. The longitudinal members I1 and 18 are suspended in planes beneath the transverse members I4 and I5 and 5 are thereto secured in any suitable manner. The frame members I! and i8 are bent upwardly at 2| to clear the rear road wheels 22, and the transverse frame members it and I5 are secured to the upwardly curved portions II in any suitable vehicle axles, the rear axle being shown at 24.

by means of springs 23. The spring supporting structure may be of any form conventional in the art. An auxiliary transverse frame member .23 is provided for interconnecting the longitudinal frame members I2 and I3 adjacent the points of connection to springs 23. The vehicle road wheels are equipped with brakes of conventional form that are actuated by a mechanism including fluid cylinders 21 under control of the vehicle operator in any well known manner.

The rear axle 24 is supported by the drive wheels 22 which are preferably attached to live axle sections disposed within the axle housing and operatively connected to a differential of conventional form mounted within a differential housing 3|. The dual drive wheels 22 are driven from the vehicle power plant through the novel drive arrangement forming the major feature of the present invention. The arrangement of the power plant and the details of the novel drive mechanism will now be described.

The power plant and transmission mechanism, mounted transversely on the base frame ll of the body to the rear of the diflerential drive axle 22 is preferably of unitary construction and comprises an internal combustion engine 33 and a change speed transmission mechanism of novel form housed in a casing 34. A friction clutch, indicat d generally by reference character 33 (Fig. 3), is also housed within the casing 34 and is associated in a novel manner with the transmission mechanism and serves to disconnect the engine 33 from the transmission when desired. Referring in detail to Figure 3 of the drawings, the

, housing 34 at the end adjacent the engine 33 is provided with a bell-shaped cover plate 31 adapted to be secured in any suitable manner to an end of the engine housing. A shouldered recess 33 at the end of the housing 34 snugly receives the outside rim of the bell-shaped flywheel housing 31,

and bolts 33 or other suitable fastening devices are used for securing the housing 34 to the flywheel housing 31.

The engine crank shaft or an extension 4| thereof is provided at its end with a disk-like member 42 to which a flywheel 43 is secured by cap screws 44. A packing r1118 43 cooperates with a beveled oil slinger at the end of the crankshaft 4| and seals the flywheel compartment in the cover plate 31 from the engine crankcase. The flywheel 43 is provided with an external ring gear 43a adapted to be engaged by the pinion of an electric or any other suitable starting motor (not shown).

A shaft 43 extends through the housing 34 and one end of this shaft projects beyond the end cover plate 43 of the housing for a purpose to be described. The shaft 43 is rotatably supported adjacent one end by a bearing 32, preferably of the antifriction type suitably carried in. an aperture in the partition wall 33. The other end of the shaft 43, which projects through the cover plate 43, is splined for a portion of its length and receives a second or auxiliary flywheel 33 having an axially extending internally splined hub 33. A bearing 31 positioned within an aperature in the cover plate 43 rotatably supports the flywheel hub 33 and shaft 43 nested therein.

A hollow gear cluster shaft 33 surrounds the shaft 43 and is driven from the said shaft throush the clutch 33 which is housed in the flywheel 33 in a manner to be described.

The shaft 43 is driven from the crank shaft 4| by a coupling member 3| which is keyed or other- 3 wise suitably secured to the end of shaft 43. A nut on the threaded end of the shaft secures the latter to the coupling member 3|. The spider arms of the coupling member are connected. by bolts 32 to the flat radial portion of the flywheel 10 43. The portions of the flywheel at the points of connection of the arms of the spider 3| are preferably provided with suitably mounted inserts so that the driving connections between the crank shaft 4| and the drive shaft 43 will be 3 flexible in character.

The inner race of the bearing 31 is maintained in position on the hub 33 of flywheel 33 by means of a fitting 63, which is screwed over a threaded section of the hub. The outer race of the bear- 20 ing 31 is held in position in the cover plate 43 by means of a cap 34 which is secured to the cover plate by screws 33 or other suitable fastening means. The packing member seated within the recess at the end of the cap 34 remote from the 23 cover plate 43 bears against the hub 33 and effectively seals the joints between the relatively movable parts against escape of lubricant.

The projecting end of the shaft 43 is provided with an internally splined pulley 31 which abuts 30 the hub 33 of the flywheel and is retained in position by the nut 33 on the reduced threaded end of the'shaft 43. The pulley 31 is grooved so that it may be used to drive accessories such as a generator or compressor or other auxiliary apparatus. 33 A fan 1| is provided on the end of the pulley and may be used to draw or force a current of air through a cooling radiator for the internal combustion engine in the well known manner. The nut 33 also serves to maintain the flywheel in 40 position longitudinally of the shaft 43 by holding it against the stop or split ring 12.

The flywheel 33 forms a part of the friction clutch assembly '33 and is accommodated in a chamber formed at the end of the casing 34 at one side of the partition wall 13. A second partition wall 14 divides the casing longitudinally and the hollow gear cluster shaft 33 is carried by bearings 1| and 13 supported in the walls 13 and 14 respectively. The inner race of the bearing 11 is retained in position against the end of a pinion 13, formed on the shaft 33 by means of a clamping device 33 in the manner described in connection with the inner race of bearing 31. The outer race of the bearing 11 is retained in position in the wall 13 by means of a cap 3| secured in position by bolts 32' or other suitable securing means. A ring 33, engaged in a groove in the bearing race is seated against a shoulder formed in the bearing recess. The inner race of the bearing 13 is positioned against the gear assembly, to be later described in connection with the description of the change speed mechanism. by means of a clamping member 33 threaded on the end of the shaft 33. A removable cover 3 gives ready access to the space within the housing 34 between the partition walls 33 and 13 and, like the covers 31 and 43, is held in place by suitable bolts 33.

The clutch 33, which provides a driving connection between the shaft 43 and the hollow gear cluster shaft 33 may be of usual construction, but modified in certain respects in view of the novel arrangement of shafts 43 and 33. It is located in outboard" fashion for convenience of control, 73

but may obviously be located conventionally as in copending applications, Serial Number 15,085 now Patent No. 2,118,810 and Serial No. 15,488 now Patent/No. 2,118,811. The flywheel 581s chambered for reception of the operative parts of the clutch 86 and the open end of the chamber is'closed by a cover plate 88 bolted to the axially extending flange 81 which encloses the chambered interior of the flywheel.

An axially adjustable friction clutch member.

88 co-acts with a friction member 88 on the flywheel to clamp between them a friction disk 9I through which the shaft 59 is rotated. This disk is riveted or otherwise secured to a splined collar 92 which is received upon the splined end of the shaft 59 to permit it to have a slight axial movement relative thereto. The disk 9| is faced on each surface with suitable friction material for cooperation with the friction members 88 and 89. The friction clutch member 88 is caused to revolve with the flywheel by lugs 94 formed at suitable intervals on said clutch member, and these lugs extend between inwardly projecting lugs 95 on the cover plate 86. The clutch member 88 is normally forced into contact with the friction disk 9I bymeans of a plurality of levers 91 which are fulcrumed on projections 98 and 99 formed upon member 88 and an adjustable portion I00 of cover plate 86. Pressure is applied to the inner ends of the levers by an axially movable collar IOI and springs I02, the latter being interposed between'a member I03 which is secured to the cover plate, and the collar IOI. A radially flanged sleeve I06 is secured to an axially reciprocable collar I 01 journalled over the shaft 59 and levers 91 are pressed against the radial flange of the sleeve I06 by the springs The sleeve I06 is restrained against axial movement to the right on collar I01 by a ring I08. Axial movement of the collar I01 to the left carries the flanged sleeve I06 with it and releases the pressure of the levers against the clutch member 88. A suitable release collar I09 is revolvably supported at the end of the collar I01 for connection to a lever or other suitable clutch operating means. In order that the clutch member 88 may separate from the friction disk 9| when the pressure on the levers is released, a series of springs H0 is provided, which springs are secured to the cover plate 86 and the clutch member 88 and these springs exert tension on the clutch member to withdraw it when the pressure on the levers 91 is released.

The operation of the friction clutch just described is believed to be obvious and no further description thereof seems necessary. It will be noted, however, that the clutch disk 9| and the release mechanism and its associated parts are carried upon the hollowgear cluster shaft 59, and that the latter and the shaft 48 are concentric and extend from the clutch 36 toward the engine and transmission mechanism.

The countershaft III of the transmission mechanism is driven from the hollow shaft 59 through a series of gears and clutching devices. Previously mentioned pinion 'I9, and a pinion II2, are formed on or secured to the shaft 59. Gears H3 and H4 are journalled for rotation upon the shaft 59 and are adapted to be clutched to the shaft by an internally splined dog clutch member II6 which is 'slidable on the splined sleeve III, the latter being keyed on or other-- wise secured for rotation with the shaft 59. The previously mentioned bearing adjustment member 88 serves to axially position the gears II 8 and H4 and the sleeve IIIon the shaft 59. The hub of each gear II! and H4 is provided with clutch teeth H9 and I20, whereby either of these gears may be secured to the shaft 59 by moving the dog clutch member II8 axially on the sleeve The shaft I II is journalled in partition walls 13 and 14 by bearings I22- and I28. The hearing I22 is a combined radial and thrust bearing carried in a cage or housing I24. This housing is adjustable axially of the aperture in the partition wall I3 by removing or replacing shims I 28. Acap member I 21 covers the bearing cage or housing I24 and carrines a speedometer drive pinion which is meshed with a speedometer drive gear I28. A threaded member 93 retains the gear I28 in position.

Gears I3I and I32 are splined or otherwise keyed to the shaft III and are constantly in mesh with the gears H3 and H4 on the shaft 59. A third gear I33 is rotatably journalled on the shaft I II and is provided with clutch teeth I34 on an axial extension of its hub. A fourth gear I35 is keyed or otherwise secured for rotation with the shaft III and is provided with an axially extending splined hub upon which the internally splined dog clutch member I38 is slidably mounted. It will be noted that the teeth of pinion I9 and gear I 35 are chamfered so that a slid-able idler pinion (not shown) may be engaged with the gear and pinion when it is desired to reverse the direction of rotation of shaft III.

High speed drive of the shaft III is obtained by moving the dog clutch member 'IIG to the left by means of a suitable shifter fork engaged in the groove I39 so that the clutch teeth I 20 are engaged by the internal splines of the dog clutch member. The sleeve II! and the gear I I8 rotate together driving the gear I32 which is secured to shaft III. It will be understood that when the dog clutch member H6 is moved to the left, the dog clutch member I38 is in the position shown and the gears I9 and I35 are not interconnected by the shiftable idler pinion.

The shaft III is selectively driven at a lower speed by sliding the dog clutch member II6 to the right so that the gear H3 is clutched for rotation with the sleeve III. Gear II3 drives shaft III through its meshing engagement with the gear I3I.

A still lower relative speed of rotation of the shaft III is secured by moving the dog clutch member I38 to the left into engagement with the teeth I34 formed on the hub of gear I33. The shaft III rotates with the gear I35 which is clutched to gear I33, this latter gear being driven by the pinion II2, with which it is constantly in mesh.

-When the shiftable idler gear is meshed with pinion I9 and gear I35 for reversing the direction of rotation of shaft II I it will be understood that dog clutch member H6 is in the position i1- lustrated on the drawings. The dog clutch member I38 which is preferably interconnected with the shifter mechanism for the shiftable idler pinion will assume a position to the right of that shown in the drawings. By interconnecting the shifting mechanism for the dog clutch member I38 and the shiftable idler pinion possible damage to the transmission is prevented which would result if the idler pinion and the clutch member I38 were independently movable.

A power take-ofi shaft I45 (Figure 1), rotatably mounted on the casing 34 in suitable bearings, extendsfrom the side of the casing and is driven from the shaft III by a bevel pinion I 46 and the bevel gear I41. A propeller shaft I48 extends forwardly from the power take-on shaft 5 I45 to the drive axle 24 and is provided with universal joints I49 of any approved designand the necessary slip joints permitting extension of the drive shaft as the axle 24 follows irregularities in the roadway. The relatively small drive 10, wheels 22, previously described, make possible the use of a relatively light drive axle 24 for transmitting the power of the engine to the drive wheels 22. The preferred location of power takeoff shaft has been described, but where it is desirable or where the vehicle on which the transmission of the present invention is installed requires alteration of the location of the take-ofl shaft I45, the countershaft III may be positioned above shaft 48. This alternative location of shaft III will raise the shaft I and allow the shaft I48 to be inclined. This arrangement of the parts is suggested by Figure 1 of the drawings. The change speed transmission mechanism is 25 under control of the vehicle operator through two pairs of cables I52 and I53 which extend longitudinally and rearwardly to the transmission casing 34. These cables are disposed beneath the floor I6 of the vehicle and preferably pass 80 through the vertical webs of the transverse frame members of the base frame II. Cable sheaths I51 are provided for the rear ends of the cables I52 and I53 and are secured adjacent one end thereof to the floor I6 by a cleat I59, 95' and by a similar cleat I6I to the vehicle body frame. Each cable of the pair I53 is connected to an end of a lever I63 which is secured to'an upright shaft I64 (Figure 3) connected to the shifter mechanism for one of the sliding clutch members H6 or I38. Each cable of the pair I52 'is likewise connected to an end of a lever I66. The lever I66 is secured on a shaft I68 connected to the shifting mechanism for the sliding idler gear and the clutch member I38. By this ar- 5 'rangement a pull on one of the cables of a pair will oscillate the associated lever from one ex- "treme position in its range of movement to the other extreme position. The lever is returned by a pull on the other cable of the pair to any soj desired intermediate position or to its extreme position in the other direction. The shafts I64 and I68 are thus positively turned in the desired 65 shown by Figure 2, to reduce its overall height,

but is otherwise of substantially conventional design except for a slight modification in the crank case thereof to furnish suitable points of connection to the vehicle frame.

16 The engine accessory units are compactly arranged, as seen in Figure 2, to conserve the space thereby occupied. These accessories include a fluid compressor "I for supplying fluid to the vehicle braking system and other fluid u operated appliances, and a generator I12 for charging the vehicle storage battery (not shown). The compressor and generator are mounted on a support extending, from the side of the engine 33, and are provided withdrive pulleys I13 and I14 respectively, which are driven by a belt from a pulley I15 on the engine crank shaft 4i. If desired, a fan I16 of conventional form may be provided on engine 83 in addition to fan H for assistance in providing a draft across the engine.

Figure 5 illustrates a slightly modified form of transmission and drive mechanism which is similar to the transmission and drive construction shown in my Patent No. 2,118,811. In this form of the invention the vehicle clutch is located conventionally between the engine and the combined transmission and power take-off unit in contrast to the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 3 wherein an outboard clutch is located unconventionally at the end of the transmission mechanism remote from the vehicle engine.

Indicated generally at I18 is a housing assembly for enclosing a clutch' unit I19, a transmission mechanism I86, and a power take-off I8I. Clutch unit I19 comprises a flywheel I82 and a clutch proper indicated generally at I83, nested within the flywheel. The concentrated mass of the flywheel I82 is approximately equal to the sum of the individual masses of the flywheel 43 and the auxiliary flywheel of Figure 3.

Figure 5 differs primarily from Figure 3 by omission of sleeve 59 surrounding the main transmission shaft, and by mounting of the transmission gearing directly on the main shaft. A pair of partition walls I84 and I88 serve to divide housing I18 into a plurality of separate compartments and further serve to support a cylindrical member I96 having a flange I91 secured to partition wall I84 by means of bolts I98. A bearing I94 mounted within sleeve I96 is designed to rotatabiy support main transmission shaft I89. Also mounted within sleeve I96 is a sealing gland 26I designed to cooperate with an annular member 262 threaded on shaft I89 in abutment with bearing I94 which in turn abuts a stop ring 264. Member 262 is secured in proper adjustment on shaft I89 by means of a lock washer 266 having tongues designed to engage matched slots in the washer and shaft. A pair of packing members 261 and 269 are urged into contact with sealing gland 26I by means of a compression spring 268. I

The end of housing I18 remote from clutch I19 is closed by an end plate 2I6 within which is mounted a bearing 2I3 for supporting the end of shaft I89. A locknut assembly 2I1 is provided on the end of shaft I89 for retaining the bearing in position, and a cap plate 2I4 is provided for enclosing the bearing and locknut assembly.

A countershaft 2l9, corresponding to countershaft III in Figure 3, is supported at its forward end in partition wall I 88 and at its r :ar end is supported in a bearing assembly 22I mounted in end plate 2I6. Upon the extreme rear end of the countershaft is mounted a speedometer drive assembly 223 enclosed within a cap plate 225. A locknut 221 retains the bearing and speedometer drive in position.

The change speed gears and sliding clutches mounted on main shaft I89 and countershaft 2I9 are counterparts of the change speed gearing disclosed in Figure 3, and operation of the gearing takes place in the manner described in detail in connection with Figure 3. In view of the similarity of disclosure in Figures 3 and 5 relative to the change speed gearing, identical reference characters have been applied to corresponding elements. It will be noted, however, that the main shaft gears of Figure 5 are mounted directly on the main shaft I88, whereas in Figure 3 the corresponding gears are mounted on sleeve 59 which surrounds the main shaft. Furthermore, the countcrshaft gearsof Figure 5 are secured to the countershaft bymeans of keys 229 in place of the splines disclosed in Figure 3.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to .be embraced therein.

Whatis claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a motor vehicle having a frame work, a power plant transversely mounted at one end of the framework and comprising an engine and an elongated housing including two gear compartments aligned with the engine, and a third compartment adjacent its outer end, a change speed mechanism comprising gearing in the middle compartment, and a pair of parallel shafts, one of said shafts being engine driven and passing into said third compartment, the other of said shafts comprising a countershaft associated with said gearing and extending at one end into the other of said gear compartments, a driving gear on said extending end, a set of drive wheels disposed relatively close to the power plant with their axes in parallelism therewith, a differential unit for driving said wheels, a propeller shaft assembly connected between said differential unit and said countershaft, said assembly projecting into said last named gear compartment and including a gear in mesh with said driving gear of the countershaft, and a clutch driven by said engine driven shaft and located in said third compartment, said clutch being connected to said change speed gearing by a sleeve surrounding said engine driven shaft.

2. In a change speed transmission mechanism, an engine driven shaft, a hollow shaft surrounding said engine driven shaft, clutching means between said engine driven shaft and said hollow shaft, a countershaft, variable speed drive means for driving said countershaft from said hollow shaft, a vehicle drive shaft at right angles to said countershaft and means operatively connecting said. countershaft to said vehicle drive shaft.

3. In a vehicle drive mechanism, a drive axle; a power plant assembly comprising a prime mover and a unitary casing attached to said prime mover; said assembly being arranged parallel to and disposed relatively close to said axle; a clutch driven by said prime mover and located in the portion of said casing remote from said prime mover; a shaft driven by said prime mover through said clutch and extending from said clutch to a point between said clutch and said prime mover and adjacent to said prime mover; a countershaft in said casing; change speed gearing interposed between said countershaft and said driven shaft; and a propeller shaft connecting said axle and said countershaft.

4. In a vehicle drive mechanism, a rear axle assembly including a differential; a power plant assembly comprising an engine, a variable speed transmission and a clutch arranged in end to and spaced relation; the longitudinal axis of said assembly being parallel to and relatively close to said axle assembly; a powerdelivery shaft oneratively connecting said engine and said clutch; a shaft interconnecting said'clutch and transmission extending towards said engine parallel to said power delivery shaft; a, propeller shaft; and means operatively connecting said propeller shaft with saidtransmission at a point between said .engine and said clutch and adjacent to said said extended end; a second shaft connectedtii said clutch and extending therefrom towards said engine; and power delivery means on said last named shaft, including change speed gearing in said casing between said clutch and said engine, for delivering power to a final drive propeller shaft.

6. In a vehicle drive mechanism, ari engine having a power delivery shaft extending from one end; a housing secured to said end of said engine and having an end wall remote from said engine; a first shaft journalled at one 'end in said end wall and coupling means connecting the other end of said shaft to said power delivery shaft; a clutch carried by said first shaft within said housing and adjacent to said housing end wall; a second shaft surrounding said first shaft and operatlvely associated with said clutch at one end; the other end of said second shaft extending from said clutch towards said engine; a third shaft journalled in said housing adjacent to said engine with its axis at an angle to said aforementioned shafts; and variable speed transmission means to transmit .power from said second shaft to said third shaft.

7. In a vehicle drive, the combination set forth in claim 6, wherein said coupling means is resilient.

8. In a vehicle drive mechanism, a rear axle having a differential; a power plant and transmission assembly, comprising a prime mover, a transmission and a clutch arranged in end to end relation in the order set forth, positioned with its longitudinal axis parallel to and disposed relatively close to said rear axle, a. power takeoff shaft associated with said transmission and extending from said power plant assembly to said differential with its axis intersecting said assembly between said transmission and clutch and said prime mover and adjacent to said prime mover.

9. In a vehicle, a rear axle including a differential; a frame structure carried by said axle; a power plant assembly mounted on said frame structure with its longitudinal axis parallel to and disposed relatively close to said axle, said power plant assembly comprising an engine, a transmission and a clutch arranged in end to end relation in the order set forth; a casing carried by said engine and housing said transmission and said clutch; means for driving said clutch from said engine; means for driving said transmission from said clutch; a take-oi! shaft journalled in said casing adjacent to said engine and positioned between said clutch and transmission and said engine; and means to drive said take-off shaft from said transmission.

10. In a vehicle drive mechanism, a power transmission assembly comprising an enginev having a power delivery shaft; an elongated housing secured to said engine and having an enlarged outer end; a shaft connected to' said shafts: and means to transmit power from said second shaft to said power take-oi! shaft.

11. In a vehicle drive mechanism, the combination set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for transmitting power from said second shaft to said take-oif shaft comprises a countershaft having a plurality of change speed gears thereon meshing with gears carried by said second named shaft.

12. In a motor vehicle having a framework; a power plant transversely mounted at one end of the framework and comprising an engine, an

elongated housing secured to said engine and including two gear compartments and a third compartment, aligned with the engine in the order named; a change speed mechanism comprising gearing in the middle gear compartment; a pair of parallel shafts, one of said shafts being engine driven and passing through said middle gear compartment into said third compartment, the

other of said shafts comprising a countershaft associated with said gearing in said middle compartment and extending at one end into the other of said gear compartments, a driving gear on said extending end adjacent to said engine; a set of driving wheels disposed relatively close to the power plant with their axes in parallelism therewith; a differential unit for driving said wheels; power transmitting means connecting said differential unit and said countershaft, said means projecting into said last named gear compartment and including a gear in mesh with said driving gear of the countershaft; and a clutch driven by said engine driven shaft and located in said third compartment, said clutch being connected to said change speed gearing by a hollow shaft surrounding said engine driven shaft.

13. In a vehicle drive mechanism; a power end of said housing; a second shaft connected to said clutch and extending therefrom towards said engine into said third compartment, said second shaft surrounding said first shaft and journalled in said housing; a third shaft journalled in said housing and located in said third compartment with one end extending into the compartment adjacent to said engine; a power take-off gear on said extended end of said third shaft for delivering power to a final drive; and change speed gearing in said third compartment for transmitting power from said second shaft to said third shaft.

WILLIAM B. FAGEOL. 

